New Scotland Boss George Burley Hails Homegrown Talent

GEORGE BURLEY last night insisted Scotland is a breeding ground for some of the best managers in the business.

GEORGE BURLEY last night insisted Scotland is a breeding ground for some of the best managers in the business.

And the new national boss insisted the only reason England went for Fabio Capello is because they don't have any decent managers of their own.

Burley spoke out bullishly after his shock appointment as national boss was confirmed at Hampden yesterday.

The former Hearts and Ayr gaffer had been considered a rank outsider but beat off the likes of Graeme Souness, Tommy Burns and Mark McGhee to be named as Alex McLeish's successor.

Burley takes over the hot seat at the same time as Capello settles into his position as the new top man of English football. The two could even go head to head at the end of May in a friendly.

Burley has signed a two-and-a-half year deal which could be extended by a further two years should he qualify Scotland for the next World Cup finals in South Africa.

But while Scotland's new boss will take home a wage of around £300,000, Italian Capello is believed to be banking around £6million a year.

Burley said: "Do I have a point to prove in terms of my qualifications? That depends on what qualifications you are looking for.

"If you are looking for a Scottish manager who has done very well at virtually every club he's been at for 16 years, who is passionate about Scotland, who is hungry and focused then I think I come into that category.

"Capello? Maybe England took him because they felt they didn't have an English manager who was right for the job. Scotland is fortunate as over the years we have had so many top-class managers. There are 12 or 16 at the moment who would be capable of doing the Scotland job.

"So people will always think that maybe one of the others should have got it. But I'm just delighted that the SFA have chosen me."

Burley was asked if he would be in favour of lining up the English for what would be his second game in charge. He said: "That's something we need to look at. The fans would love to see the fixture come back."